Phil Bradley's weblog

Custom-built Search Engines Ariadne Issue 55

I write a column for the online magazine Ariadne and my latest is on the subject of Custom-built Search Engines. I look at what they are, what the alternatives are and why you should use them.

CILIP Q&A

My CILIP | Q&A has been published for the month of May. It covers presentation software, Google variants on its home page, using memory sticks and my site of the month. It's a brief read, but you might like it! :)

Internet Resources Newsletter: Issue 161

Internet Resources Newsletter: Issue 161. This is now available. Grab a coffee and go and read it. :)

britannica webshare and twitter

The Britannica has long been holding out against giving away content, but the walls are finally beginning to crumble with ' Webshare.' They're making an offer to anyone who publishes on the net on a regular basis that they can have free access to all content, and that they can link to it, allowing their readers to have access to entire articles.

I've added in their widget pointing to an article on the Internet - it'll be interesting to see what happens; in my preview window it's just saying that it's loading, so we'll have to see if it does load!

If you're a blogger, and you blog on a regular basis, you can sign up from the link above - so if anyone asks you why it's worth becoming a blogger, you now have a whole new reason to give them!

Seriously though, it's about time the EB did something like this - they're being hammered by Wikipedia in terms of numbers of visits and they're very much in danger of pricing themselves entirely out of the market. Moving in this direction is a good step forward, and I'm willing to be that it's not the only one they'll take.

They also have a Twitter account so that you can keep up to date with the goings on at http://twitter.com//EBWebShare but there's not a lot there, but they do have 97 keen enthusiastic followers!

CILIP | Internet Q & A - Phil Bradley

My CILIP | Internet Q & A. is up and available. I talk about creating search engines, spelling, harvesting a bunch of URLs and more besides.

Main Articles: 'Human-powered Search Engines: An Overview and Roundup', Ariadne Issue 54

Ariadne Issue 54 has just been published, which includes my article 'Human-powered Search Engines: An Overview and Roundup'. I've looked at some of the major engines in their field, looked at their advantages and disadvantages and made several general points about them.

CILIP | Internet Q & A

My CILIP | Internet Q & A column for March is now available. Questions cover Windows clipboard, saving search histories and site of the month.

CILIP | Internet Q & A - Phil Bradley

My latest CILIP Internet Q & A column is available. I'm answering questions about the hidden web, using images and foreign languages, and some good Google tips.

Internet Resources Newsletter: Issue 159

Internet Resources Newsletter: Issue 159. Now available, jampacked with informational goodness that's so nutritious you want to spread it on toast and eat it.

Internet Resources Newsletter: Issue 158

Internet Resources Newsletter: Issue 158. Now available with its usual bag of informational goodies.